Hand hovering over the door handle, Lucy pauses. The smell of burned plastic makes her gag and she winces as she imagines the scene beyond. The fire has destroyed her once-pristine dining room, although she acknowledges, it had been unusable for a while. Six months to be exact. Ever since Tim moved his collection in. “Only temporary,” he’d said when she protested. “Just while I sort them out.” ...

Added 13 Mar 2020 | Category Flash Fiction | Votes 8 | Avg Score 5 | Views 259 | 9 Comments

Cigarette smoke. No doubt about it. What idiot was smoking in the cinema? I take the steps two at a time determined to find the culprit before the smoke alarms go off. Bursting through the door, I intend to head for the toilets – the usual hiding place – but there’s no need: a tall blonde is leaning against the wall by the balcony doors, cigarette dangling from scarlet lips. Startled, she...

Added 09 Mar 2020 | Category Science Fiction | Votes 7 | Avg Score 5 | Views 215 | 8 Comments

Time. Where has it gone? Years spent dancing around each other, denying our feelings, ignoring the truth. We were friends, not lovers; companions, not soul-mates. Why did it take us so long to admit we were wrong? It doesn’t matter. We’re making up for it now. Finally wrapped in each other’s arms, we’ve discovered true contentment. No point dwelling on the past, the wasted time and what...

Added 26 Jan 2020 | Category Micro Fiction | Votes 11 | Avg Score 5 | Views 263 | 11 Comments

She stared at her reflection: silver-streaked hair, laughter lines, dark circles beneath her eyes. She looked middle-aged. Was middle-aged. Where were the white hair and deep creases of later years she’d expected to see as her end neared? Too soon … way too soon . Thoughts of a missed future – of laughing grandchildren, long summer days pottering outside, retirement holidays in...

Added 11 Jan 2020 | Category Micro Fiction | Votes 12 | Avg Score 5 | Views 344 | 13 Comments

Left, right, left, right… keep going, keep breathing. Her chest burned, rasping breaths tearing her parched throat. Still, she battled on. Left, right, left, right… Pumping dance music pounded her ears but she’d long since abandoned keeping time to the beat. Now, it was merely a distraction, a way to drown out slap of feet on the tarmac and the racing thump of her bursting heart. “Must...

Added 09 Sep 2019 | Category Drama | Votes 11 | Avg Score 5 | Views 580 | 12 Comments

It didn’t look this high from below. “That’s it, take it nice and steady.” Nodding at the instructor, I lean back, gripping the rope tightly, and ease it through the cleat. My feet slip on the wet rock as I struggle to find purchase, heart hammering fit to burst. Below, Anika waves, the movement caught in my peripheral vision while I’m staring straight ahead. How did she talk me into this?...

Added 07 Aug 2019 | Category Romance | Votes 8 | Avg Score 5 | Views 988 | 10 Comments

  Characters:   Ellie Carmichael Early thirties, Information Systems Technician Tom Carmichael Late thirties, Life Support Systems Engineer Yinzi Chen Mid-forties, Project Manager Joe Green Late-twenties, Communication Officer Liz D’Souza Late-twenties, Supplies Officer Tyrone Symonds Mid-thirties, Construction Manager Sophie Carmichael Five years old   SCENE ONE ...

Added 26 Jul 2019 | Category Plays | Votes 10 | Avg Score 5 | Views 661 | 10 Comments

Gaze fixed on her phone, Jaz read the email again without taking in a word. She squeezed Tish’s hand, her grip tightening when raucous laughter exploded from the four men sprawled on the seats diagonally opposite. “I mean, look at ’im. Fuckin’ poof.” Tensing, Jaz looked up to see the man in the outside seat facing her, lean across the table and send a beer can clattering to the floor....

Added 12 Jul 2019 | Category Drama | Votes 11 | Avg Score 5 | Views 634 | 11 Comments

It didn’t fit. It was the right style and cupped her left breast like a glove, but the right side gaped. “Everything alright?” Angie twisted, checking all angles in the mirror. “I’m going to try it with the blouse,” she said, bending to extract a small square of folded white cotton from a blue plastic bag. “Call if you need me.” “Will do.” Angle shook the blouse, tags flapping. She...

Added 31 Jan 2019 | Category Flash Fiction | Votes 13 | Avg Score 5 | Views 1,171 | 12 Comments

Remember when we headlined at Alleycats, 420 East Street? Remember the heat, the buzz, the whole place packed to the rafters and reeking of liquor and cigarette smoke? Do you recall the spotlights cutting through the haze and the bone-shaking throb of the bass? Good times. The best. Our one chance to shine. Living on potato chips, cocktails, and laughter, we warbled passion to a lazy blues...

Added 24 Sep 2018 | Category Micro Fiction | Votes 29 | Avg Score 5 | Views 1,100 | 28 Comments